-Down to Earth The report emphasises the need to normalise menstruation by looking at behaviour, infrastructure, politics and perception In an aim to make India open defecation-free by 2019, many aspects of sanitation have been undermined, such as usage, maintenance and water availability. A 2015 report by Dasra, a Mumbai-based philanthropy foundation and the Bank of America highlights another key aspect ignored when it comes to sanitation. According to the report based on data...

-Hindustan Times The resolution moved by councillors Raj Dutt and seconded by Nandini Sharma said food items displayed in open posed a danger of “contamination” and “hurt the sentiments of vegetarian public” New Delhi: If the civic body has its way, non-vegetarian food displayed in the open on stalls outside restaurants and eateries of South Delhi would soon be prohibited for ‘Hygiene’ and ‘sentimental’ reasons. The resolution approved in the last house...

-Livemint.com The malnutrition burden in India remains high despite some progress and there is tremendous inter-state and inter-district variability, the district wise nutrition profiles show New Delhi: The government’s flagship program National Nutrition Mission (NNM) has a clear picture of the challenges it faces in dealing with malnutrition after the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on Wednesday released nutrition profiles of all states and 640 districts of India. The malnutrition burden in...

-The Indian Express India’s healthcare debate should go back to the 40-year-old declaration that accords centrality to the local medical worker. India’s healthcare crisis has evoked a policy debate with arguments being made in favour of and against the public and private sector. S.N. Mohanty (‘Fixing healthcare’, IE, November 11) summarises the arguments of both sides very well. He concludes that there is a need to “design the public health system around...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Centre has initiated moves to withdraw its controversial May 23 notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter in livestock markets and will bring an amended version specifying dos and don'ts intended to prevent cruelty to animals and address safety and Hygiene issues. The environment ministry has written to the law ministry seeking its view on withdrawal of the notification so it can bring an amended...